(Updated 1/23) More Evidence of Rebranding to New Orleans Pelicans This Offseason

The team called a press conference on Thursday at 3, as Peralta indicated. The conference will have visuals and is not just a verbal announcement, so it is likely at least a partial unveiling. The players will be back from San Antonio and done with practice, so they will be available to model uniforms.

I just got out of meeting with Hornets-Saints: it’s official. On Thursday announced the name change and show logos, uniform Pelicanos

@ hornets were called Pelicans. Announcement will be on Thursday at 3pm sand. Gov. Jindal will be present

((Thanks to Jose Molero for pointing this out. Also, it seems the tweets were removed . . . and the account.))

Updated: 12/20: Recent articles indicate that the NBA has filed for trademark protection for several names for the New Orleans Hornets, one of which is New Orleans Pelicans. This is mostly a non-story for the following reasons:

As indicated here, trademark protection is conferred upon use in commerce. Registration is an additional step. Many a team has used or revealed their logo / branding then had the registration complete afterwards. Also, sometimes these have been filed after the team has but things into use. Additionally, teams tend to register things in groups even if they have no intention on using them. This gives the filer plausible deniability as to what `the secret’ is, and gives some wiggle room if necessary.

The point is, these things take time to go from conceived to viewable on a website, so these do NOT represent up-to-the-minute thought.

What it does is tell us what we knew: These were filed on 12/5. Spears’ report came out on the afternoon of the 4th.

Also, if Benson wanted to use Brass or Voodoo and use the existing branding, they’d have to buy the mark, not file for a new one.

Still, as much possibility as there is for something else, the evidence still points to Pelicans, as reported here for quite some time.

Yahoo’s Marc Spears is validating the report below that the New Orleans Hornets will become the Pelicans . . . we do not know if New Orleans Pelicans, Louisiana Pelicans, Orleans Parish Pelicans, or whatever has been been chosen; we just know the further reports that the nickname desired is Pelicans and the colors are some kind of red, some kind of gold, and some kind of navy blue (yes, there is a range there, too). We do not know the local, the logo, the mascot, etc.

The Benson camp is denying that this is final, and of course they are. All of these changes need to be approved at by the Board of Governor’s (and this can be done by phone), which has not happened. The story here is that this is the preference of ownership.

There does not seem to be a compelling reason for this particular rebrand to not be approved, but it could happen. Stern has confirmed that he’d support the change and would not be pinned down on the time frame for the change. Most changes take around 2 years from the point of request, but it has been maintained consistently that the rebrand would be allowed to happen in the 2013 offseason, making the 2014 NBA All-Star Game a highlight of the inaugural season of the Pelicans, thus maximizing the value of the ASG to the franchise and the NBA.

Stern will be in town tomorrow, but he will likely not satisfy the desire for knowledge on this subject. He was clearly displeased at the talk at the ownership / ASG press conference in April both during the interview and afterwards. Also, most official rebrand announcements take place just following a season, withe Thunder rebrand being a clear exception but with a specific cause: a court case.

Original story (11/29) below:

The latest New Orleans Hornets rebranding news, however subtle, comes from a highly placed source: Mrs. Gayle Benson. Here is the news from Mrs. Gayle as she spoke to Jennifer Hale on the pregame show before the loss to the Jazz:

However, placed on the canvas with other facts, these comments take on a greater weight.

In fact, they point straight the New Orleans Pelicans as the end-product the rebrand.

There is a good deal of back story on the rebrand (which you should read up on the fully grok this), but the short of it is that there will be a rebrand, and Pelicans is one of the candidates. This is based on conversations with friends of Hornets247, rumors in various media, and the fact that Tom Benson owns the name / brand, has for a while, and has been maintaining LLC’s bearing this name or something similar.

So let’s start connecting the dots. The New Orleans Pelicans logo is featured above. Note the red, the gold, and the black. Here are links to more images for those who are interested:

As can be easily seen, the red-black-gold concept AND the red-blue-gold concept are both with the Pelicans hypothesis, despite protests that that Pelicans are gray or the state bird is a brown pelican (which can be gray). In fact, earlier reports claimed one color was gray. Assuming Mrs. Gayle is correct, this earlier information was in error, but it could be squared up if the person leaking the gray color saw images similar to the t-shirt above and assumed it was one of the main colors. This is being charitable, but it’s worth mentioning.

Additionally, these colors square up less nicely with other candidate names: Voodoo, Brass, Krewe, Angels. While possible, these seem out of line with the three colors above when compared to the Pelicans evidence. Additionally, the Voodoo are pulling no punches in terms of marketing themselves as Voodoo and show no signs of folding, so a quick rebrand to Voodoo seems more and more unlikely.

Cardinals fits with the colors above, but some rumors indicated an older name that is not shared with a current professional sports franchise. This would disqualify Cardinals, if correct, while admitting Pelicans.

Lastly, one of the criteria is that the brand mean something to New Orleans. Pelicans clearly does, and those colors are the colors on the New Orleans flag, along with white, which any team can use.

I do not see a more compelling case at this time, so Pelicans looks like the front runner. We’ll see in April or May, it seems.

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158 Comments

Wispy

November 29, 2012 at 2:04 am

Just wondering what everyone else’s thoughts are on the rebranding?
Personally I would prefer them not to change anything. I have been a hornets fan since 92 and will continue to do so even with the change, but just think some things are best left alone.
Living in Australia I have yet to see the hornets play live and by the look of things I neve will!
Great work with the site guys it looks great!

me personally i hate the idea of a name change. HATE! if the hornets name leaves and charlotte gets its name back i will root for charlotte. The hornets brand is that popular of that of the lakers, the knicks, it is classic.

That’s absurd. It’s not nearly that popular of a brand, objectively. Come on.

Patrick

November 29, 2012 at 2:33 am

Please do not change anything! I love the colours and the hornets name is so much better than the suggested replacement especially the pelicans. I find that name embarrassing, imagen a team thinking about how they have to play the pelicans. It will be a laughing stock

Guys don’t worry, its not going to be the Pelicans. My source who works for the league office in NY and has confirmed that the Pelicans was one of 3 finalist but wasn’t the winner. The two other finalist were Voodoo and Krewe.

well technically if you track his time line, he’ snow saying it’s been confirmed to him with out a doubt that it won’t be the Pelicans.

On the 19th he said it was between the Pelicans and Krewe, I guess he wasn’t told that Voodoo was actually an option. Which says to me that maybe it wasn’t at the time.

On the 21st he says It won’t be the Pelicans because he was told it wasn’t, but it sounded as though he was only told what it wan’t and not what it was. Since he thought it was only the two options by process of elimination his “GUT” told him it was Krewe.

Now he knows that it still won’t be Pelicans and Voodoo was the 3rd option, but he’s not saying he thinks it’s the Krewe anymore.

My question about Krewe is, how did that name start with one quirky die hard guy on a hornets forum and travel all the way up the food chain, to the point it got to Tom Benson and then league office?

Maybe this “ballsy” name is Voodoo, because there is already the Arena League team here and Tom Benson is going to use it anyway.

And aren’t the Voodoo colors Purple,Red and Gold. Change the Purple to black to Navy, keep the Red and Gold.

If it’s not Pelicans, I can’t see how things fell in line so well for that one guy grassroots’ movement and KREWE made as an option first, then picked as the name second.

If Voodoo was one of 3, that means Benson has a legal right to use it and if Pelicans are out, It can’t be Krewe.

Jason Calmes

November 29, 2012 at 8:39 am

Voodoo was an option then, which you can read in the article this links to on the back story.

If that story is incorrect, then what you are saying is plausible, but I’m not sure why a lurker on a site claiming specific knowledge without evidence presented is given weight above that of the evidence laid out clearly for all to see on that same site.

For what it’s worth, I’m not jumping up and down about the Pelicans, and you can see (again, following links), that Krewe was named as the most reasonable option to me long ago. I think Voodoo would be the best option, however.

As you read in the article, the Voodoo are marketing themselves as the Voodoo while preparing for the upcoming season, so I don’t see how that’s an option at this point. It would be odd for them to start as the Voodoo, have the NBA announce a change to the Voodoo, continue to play as the Voodoo, then have the Hornets change to the Voodoo for real just after their season ends, then change their name.

NemesisKing

November 29, 2012 at 9:33 am

I’m not saying that what he says carries more weight. I’m just looking at if from that perspective and trying to figure things out for myself.

As far as the colors go, i think those colors were more about tying them to the Saints and differentiating them by adding the religious red. Could be the colors for any team name.

Again i’m not saying that the guy is legit or he isn’t, i’m just adding my 2 cents to your question to him.

To me there isn’t anything that legitimately points to the Pelicans other than the colors that are now confirmed(unless the league gives in on black) that people are jumping as the smoking gun.

Well the Buccaneers original colors were red, white and blue. Maybe you change the white to gold(Saints) and keep the red and the Navy.

I won’t doubt there are people out there with knowledge, so i wouldn’t want to just disregard the info. I could believe in the fact that there were 3 finalists.

It does seem a little funny that those three happen to be the main 3 that has been ran through all the forums.

And again i just don’t see how Krewe made it from the lips of one guy on a forum and developed enough of a following and respect that Tom Benson would put in the pot, considering we knew all the same guys who think everything should be adorned and Mardi Gras everything, who championed that name through the forums but there still seemed to be even more who hated it.

I can’t see the league going for Pelicans, i could see them all laughing, then getting serious and saying we can’t market this ****, all the wasted Anthony Davis jerseys that would sit on the shelves, because nobody will want an AD Pelican Jersey. It is what it is, a minor league baseball name.

As for Krewe, league controls everything. Another laugher, because they won’t get it at first and when they do, they won’t understand why you would want to use that. And if they don’t get it, they can’t market it because fans around the world won’t get it.

There is so much you can do with Voodoo, that could eventually appeal to people around the world, and with a great color scheme i could see the average NBA fan buying an Anthony Davis Voodoo Jersey.

Now that is how i see, i honestly don’t think thats how its going to go down because i’m never right about stuff like that.

Jason Calmes

November 29, 2012 at 9:43 am

Bucs vs Bucks would be an issue.

All teams can use white.

Hornets4life

November 30, 2012 at 1:36 am

Between now and the last time you posted about the re-brand possibilities, I had spoken with my guy when I was in NY recently. I was then made aware of the Voodoo been the 3rd name in a final list of re-brand possibilities, (Krewe, Voodoo & Pelicans). I have consistently said the Pelicans is not going to be the name as it has been confirmed to me. I don’t know whether Benson has approached the New Orleans Voodoo about gaining rights use the Voodoo. Krewe is the other name which i believe will be the new name but has not been confirmed to me. I love this team as much as everyone on here and im not going to give false information on here to stir things up. So u know my source works in Marketing for the league.

Jason Calmes

November 30, 2012 at 6:20 am

Thanks.

Any insight as to why Krewe would be red, gold, blue?

Hornets4life

November 30, 2012 at 9:49 pm

I’m not a New Orleans Native nor do I live in the New Orleans, So i cant speak of relevance of the name Krewe associating to Red, Gold & Navy blue. As far as I’m aware Red, Gold & Navy Blue are the colors of New Orleans flag and Krewe is a group that puts on a parade during New Orleans Mardi Gras.

I can somewhat back this guys story up from a prospective that the team could be named the Krewe. I work for Adidas and Rumors getting around the company is that the franchise had finalized the re-brand sometime ago. The name is suppose to be most logical from Tom Benson’s prospective, its suppose to best represent the Team and City as a whole. So New Orleans Krewe, as in “Crew” makes sense. With the spelling Krewe to give it a New Orleans feel.

From that prospective It doesn’t make alot of sense. Im just sharing with you info I have heard from a connection who i know and trust, so take it for what it is but time will tell. Im not trying to discredit your article, I just hope we don’t become a laughing stock. I know one of your buddies on HR forum has traced my IP address to Australia, which is correct, I moved to Australia from New York last yr.

There’s no discredit involved, and never thought so. The facts laid out are in now way contradicted by your claims.

I’d prefer Voodoo or Krewe, personally, so I hope it’s right. I just don’t see it in the facts that are publicly available at this time. If it’s true or there are other facts indicating it, great.

Jason Calmes

December 1, 2012 at 12:09 pm

Purple Haze on Hornets report pointed out that Crusaders could be shortened to Cru. Given that Benson’s high school (repackaged) has a team name of crusaders who use a dark red and gold, then maybe there is something there.

This is all speculation, but would tie Crew or Krewe to non-Mardi-Gras colors.

Your source is wrong. The owner gets what the owner wants, Voodoo will raise protest from crazy people and Krewe is just bad and doesnt make any sense. The Pelican has history and ties the team to the state. New owner, new goofy state affiliated name. As a blazers fan, I’m going to buy a pelicans hat, I personally think its an awesome locally relevent nickname that has potential. Is it really worse than bobcats, wizards, raptors, or the Jazz(only because its in Utah which seems ironic).

I like Pelicans. Since a rebrand is coming and we can’t remain Hornets, it is my first choice. Red and black is one of my favorite color schemes but the Bulls, Heat, Blazers, Raptors and maybe others if forgot a few are black and red; plus, it may be a little difficult to get some of us Saints fans to get on board with Falcons colors.

I really liked the LeBron era Cavs uniforms and the projected color scheme sounds similar so I’m excited. As long as Benson drops the pinstripes. Work some fleur-de-lis somewhere into the uniform and everybody will be happy.

Can somebody tell whoever needs to hear that Louisiana does have hornets. So why change anything, hornets are just as much a part of LA wildlife as Pelicans and sound so much better. Come on, what will happen to BEEFENSE?

From what I have understood, the league has a policy (which they recently and reluctantly broke for the Nets) against allowing black as a primary uni color. The reasoning ostensibly getting that black does not look good on TV, which we Saints fans know to be false. It could be part of the efforts to distance from ‘thug’ jerseys like Oakland Raiders or White Sox (which the Nets were obviously mimicking, NY being important enough to get a pass).

Those statements seem to be a reflection of the team bring forcefully made aware that black would not be made available to them, and not much more. I personally would be surprised if they went with the Pelicans. Much more a baseball name.

I can see that. But I think that it is probably more likely that they were using the Saints colors, as noted other places, and wanted to add a color to differentiate themselves. You can’t really add blue or green, not as well.

Instead if being wedded to the Pelican name itself, it could be more along the lines that they could already have invested money in marketing research into that color scheme. They might have mock-ups with that scheme they have already focus grouped and investigated, w/o it being dependent on keeping the Pelican name for this franchise.

I am not accusing anyone of necessarily misreading the evidence, I very much see why you might think this to mean Pelicans. But I just find it unlikely that will be the final decision. Of course, I never thought we would have teams called the Thunder or Wizards or (shudder) Raptors. Pelicans trumps those cold.

I just feel like the original colors are most likely based on inter-branding the local franchises, with the switch from black coming from the NBA.

MZURK

November 29, 2012 at 8:57 pm

If the team name is Pelicans I hope the main jersey color isn’t black. Then we will be the oil slicked Pelicans.

While that does have a certain state “history” to it, I just hope they don’t go there…

You guys saying keep the name there remember it is not a Louisiana name and you will continue to be called “Charlotte Hornets” no matter if you keep the name for 50 years. People in the media and around America identify that name with Charlotte and always will. It is better to get a name that is YOURS especially for a city that brags about having so much culture and tradition it’s pretty sad you say keep another area’s name there. Why? Is it because you can not find a name that suits your city or state so you steal a Carolinian name to feel good about yourselves?

I wasn’t talking to you I was talking about the people claiming the name belongs in New Orleans where clearly the rest of the nation disagrees. Take a poll for anyone in the nation to vote on..on ESPN bet you I am not wrong. If you guys do rebrand great it’s what you guys need because I am tired of watching New Orleans get called Charlotte over and over.

Jason Calmes

November 29, 2012 at 9:33 am

I’m talking about facts and use of the word steal.

Bounce

December 3, 2012 at 11:48 pm

Get us the Jazz back and you can have the Hornets.

Lucas Ottoni

November 29, 2012 at 10:09 am

If rebrand happen, I hope Charlotte is called HORNETS again. And I will pass the cheering by the Charlotte Hornets. I don’t like the idea of ​​supporting this awful thing with the name of Pelicans. GO HORNETS!!! Forever!!!

Wow. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone cheer for the literal mascot name before.

Are you a Georgia Tech fan as well?

That would make it your fourth favorite team this decade, assuming you arrived with the Hornets and were comfortable cheering for the OKC/NO monstrosity (as I was).

Gary

November 29, 2012 at 5:13 pm

Really? Who cheers for a mascot. Go ahead and take that pic down.not trying to be mean. But I and the rest of this fan base root for the team. I wouldn’t care what they were called. So GEAUX NOLA BASKETBAll!

Rafa Brazil

November 29, 2012 at 9:30 pm

I like the city of New Orleans, even though I’ve never been to America, you guys seem to be very nice and supportive fans, besides, I’ve never heard of anybody talking crap about NOLA.

But I’m a HORNETS fan, it was the Hornets that got me to watch basketball, to play and almost give up on college to go pro, not New Orleans, and I’ll keep supporting the HORNETS, no matter where they are. New Orleans will have a basketball team for a long time, but if the Hornets disappear, it won’t be the same, I’d still root for New Orleans, but it just wouldn’t be the same.

The HORNETS have lots os fans worldwide, like me and Lucas, and while I understand you standing for your city, I believe most of these fans are attached to HORNETS more than New Orleans, and that wouldn’t translate to pelicans, krewe or any other name Benson has in his mind.

I’m all for keeping the HORNETS! You redesingned the site, but it still is hornets247, the same could happen to the franchise. No rebranding, just redesigning.

NOH Domination

November 30, 2012 at 4:21 pm

I’m with you Lucas… Well partially. I became a fan of this team in Charlotte because as a kid I liked their colors and sweet court. I’m a Hornet fan, not a New Orleans fan. I’ve supported the Hornets my whole life. I liked them in Charlotte and was disappointed when they moved, but they were still my team. When they were displaced to OKC I still cheered for them and when they moved back nothing changed. During the whole Shinn sale and potential move drama, I preferred they stay in New Orleans, but I would’ve followed them anywhere they went. I’m having a hard time reconciling with this name change. If the name changes I’ll probably still be a fan of this franchise (even though I hate the name Pelicans and the colors), but if the Bobcats rebrand to the Hornets I’ll have a tough decision. The Hornets is the team I grew up with and the team I have connections with, but the Bobcats are sooooo bad. I don’t want to be a fan of that team. In actuality I’ll probably be a nomad. I can’t fully support a team named the Pelicans and I can’t support a team named the Hornets if I know it’s just a lie. It’s like losing a teddy bear as a child and your parents try to replace it with the same exact type of teddy bear, but you know the difference and that new teddy bear is just not the same. *Sigh* Perhaps I can turn to Rubio and the Wolves to be my team or maybe I’ll just wait for the eventual return of the Supersonics. Thanks for the memories New Orleans, this team is now yours and soon to be no longer mine.

Gary

November 30, 2012 at 5:37 pm

Rafa. Dude. It doesn’t make sense. So you wouldn’t like our team if they weren’t called the hornets. You just care about logos. What’s the point of watching then. Just buy some charlotte throwbacks.

Rafa Brazil

November 30, 2012 at 6:54 pm

Gary… Like I said, I’d still have an appreciation for the New Orleans team, if the rebrand actually happens, but it wouldn’t be the same feeling… You extinguish the brand Hornets, you should start from zero. What the Hornets won, the great players and the great time we all had watching them is left behind, it belongs to the Hornets, not to the Pelicans or any other name… You might be right, I might care about the logo, but that logo has a whole history attached to it, I wasn’t a Charlotte or an OKC fan, I’ve always been a HORNETS fan, and so will be.

We problably disagree in that regard, since you and from what I can tell, most of the fans are New Orleans fans, not necessarily Hornets fans, it’s just my feelings about the whole rebrand thing…

Please share with me your point and everybody else, I find this an extremely interesting subject to discuss!

Jacob

November 30, 2012 at 7:35 pm

You are right, Pelicans is for triple A baseball teams and car washes, not Professional basketball teams. Just because this sorry excuse of a welfare city can’t attract a baseball team doesn’t mean you go with a soft minor league theme to describe a fast paced full blown professional franchise. I mean this isn’t a college!

Gary

November 30, 2012 at 7:56 pm

When hornets leaves to charlotte, I will not root for them. Call us the New Orleans Zebras and I’ll be there. I love this team. I love the logo too, but its leaving and we can’t do anything about it. So don’t pretend to be a hornets team fan, when you are just pulling for the team with that color and logo. Not trying to be a jerk. I’m just saying its strange. This team will do great things in the future, and its a shame some of these people won’t be there to see it

Gary

November 30, 2012 at 7:59 pm

This isn’t about a city or logo. Its about the team. Its about this culture. The memories don’t die with the logo, they stay with this team. What we’ve built stays here.

Rafa Brazil

December 1, 2012 at 11:41 am

Your vision of rooting for a team, and passion for a team is clearly different from mine, maybe because I’m brazilian, and we’ve always been influenced by the soccer, and to root for our teams like we root and defend our soccer team.

I don’t care which city it is, I’m a Hornets fan, be it a weak group of players or 5 future hall-of-famers, I’ll be supporting the Hornets. I’m not the one pretending to be a Hornets fan, I’m just not a New Orleans fan above all, perhaps you are a New Orleans fan according what you said, considering that if the Hornets move to somewhere else, you’d root for the zebras (just an example you gave), but not for the Hornets. I support the Hornets team because it represents the Hornets, if the brand moves to other city, I’ll support the team that reprsents it then. That’s what I’m trying to say!

Jason Calmes

December 1, 2012 at 11:51 am

The fact is most fans do not live in the locale of their team, but the local fans are the STH base and are the targets of the much of the marketing and tv stuff.

So, it’s about a large number of fans supporting with trickle of funds that add up to alot or a smaller number that contribute in much larger amounts, at least from a money perspective. In the end, there’s more potential to grow outside of any locale, so it’s best to focus on the fans that aren’t trapped. That’s why I think the best business decision is to keep the brand (which has value), and let it sink (perhaps against resistance) into the local conscience. It is not my decision, however.

Hornets may `die’, actually. If it does, you may want to consider which franchise you will follow. The one New Orleans will contain the most former Hornets.

Rafa Brazil

December 1, 2012 at 11:48 am

I don’t root for a team because it’s a good group of players or beacuse it might win many titles, I root for passion, that kind of love has no explanation, you just love your team! That’s how it happend with my soccer team (São Paulo Futebol Clube), is the team I go to the stadium support, the one I bought 4 seats in the stadium, is the one I love! Just like the Hornets, only that I didn’t have the opportunity to go to New Orleans watch a game so far.

Gary

December 2, 2012 at 1:23 am

Rafa. What you said has blown my mind. Passion for you is rooting for a mascot? I get what your saying, you root for the hornets, not the city their in or any particular team. But dude that is weird. Passion is on a TEAM not a MASCOT.

Rafa Brazil

December 2, 2012 at 7:45 pm

I don’t root for Hugo the Hornet, but for the organization Hornets, you get it? Maybe I didn’t make that as clear as I intended, it’s not about the mascot, it’s about the franchise, and the history it carries! I’d hate the Hornets to be in Salt Lake City because of the Jazz fans (they suck! bunch of jerks!), or in California, I like it in NOLA, but I’m still all about Hornets, the franchise, the history, not the logo or the owner or the mascot… I apologize if I fail to make myself clear to you, maybe I should take some more english classes!

The Cambridge certificate of proficiency in english doesn’t seem to back its own! dammit!

Andrew Smith

December 5, 2012 at 10:54 am

If you where a Washington Bullets fan would you not support the Wizards today?

why isn’t there room for the option that it is none of these preconceived names? I don’t know why but i get the feeling its gonna be so different from all of our guesses that it blows all of our minds. lol

I’m guessing the Red Navy and Gold will have to be Lebron Era Cavs colors as the current CAVS jersey look a lot like that pelican gear.

I also hope the league asked the Benson’s for multiple possible names and will evaluate each from a marketability stand point.

A prime time match up between say the “Pelicans” and Thunder sounds really D leagueish and to be honestly as an African American male I feel pelicans would get laughed at in the hip hop culture that is the NBA

Honestly I know some people loath the Krewe name but it would be the perfect fit

So we are basically going to be watching the Atlanta basketball team, except more wimpy of a bird for a mascot…makes me sick that our color schemes will be almost identical, I really pray Mr. Benson has more common sense than to do this.

I’m from New Orleans and take pride in my city, but God please not a F’n Pelican!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t know. For someone who’s all about facts, there’s a lot of speculation here. Or maybe I just don’t get it. I understand that the frontrunner colors match some of the old Pelican stuff, but I don’t get why that points away from any other name. Why don’t the colors square up with “Krewe?” I don’t think anyone wants purple, green, and gold all year long. They work nicely as the, uh, change of pace uniform during the season.

Well “everyone” is not a hive mind some ppl wanted the team to stay the same and some liked the idea of pelicans and some outright don’t like it.

Just because you name something instinctively Louisiana doesn’t make it a good name …. Not that I’d lose sleep over Pelicans I can very much understand some people’s fear of us becoming a national punch line.

If the name changes to the Pelicans I will fast until they change the name back… I mean seriously who in their right mind would fear a Pelican? Pelicans fly away, hornets are a type of wasp and thus don’t lose their stingers like bees do. I would like they name to Evolve to Bald Faced Hornets

Pelicans is an awesome name. What a bunch of crybabies complaining about the name change. WaWaWaWa. Benson bought the team and its his prerogative to name it whatever the H**L he wants. Once this team starts winning ballgames noone is going to give a rat’s A** what the name is. I’ll always remember fondly the Hornets name, but its got nothing to do with New Orleans. Might as well call the team the New Orleans Polar Bears. Pelicans is a great idea.

This is awful news. I live in Oregon and became a Hornet fan early 90s because I loved the colors and my parents bought me their clothes. Stuck with them this whole time. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS? ARE YOU KIDDING!! Dumb name and if true, I will get made fun of by every single one of my friends.

I’ve always dreamed of the announcer saying “And the Hornets have won the 20** NBA championship!” Replacing Hornets with Pelicans just doesn’t fit. No one on earth will want to be a Pelican. I’m beside myself.

I would hope that they wouldn’t change anything. Why not enhance the brand?? I don’t have any ideas right off hand but I’m sure that they are many capable artists out there what would love the challenge. I just think it is worth the effort as well as getting artwork for a new name.

The only reason i support the Hornets is because they are the Hornets, not because their in New Orleans??? Maybe us international fans are the make or break of this business but the branding is what initially draw me to the Hornets since the days of Granda mama so to change the legacy and ztart a new one with the new owners is something i can understand but not something that will keep me supporting this team. I’m a Hornets fan not a New Orleans fan, no disrespect intended to the locals but thats just how it is for me. Take away the Hornets branding and i’m off to support a new franchise, because the Hornets are the team i’ve supported my whole life, hence why i followed them regardless if they were in Charlotte or New Orleans.

Sorry, I understand what you are saying, but it is just dumb. The name really should not matter very much… It is almost immature to follow a team because of its name. I can see disliking a team name, although it does not matter to me and Pelicans is fine to me, but not following them anymore because of the name is a different story. But have fun following the Charlotte Bobcats(Hornets) they seem to have a great future ahead of them!

This should be the Hornets censored 24/7 always deleting my opinions.No free speech on this page at all.It’s so sad that in this great country of ours. Views and opinions can’t be said due to crybabies on here panic anytime anyone have anythhing to say.This is unamerican

At first, I didn’t like the idea of the team being called the Pelicans, but it’s grown on me, and now I love it. It is really classy and traditional. For it to work, the logo and the uniform have to reflect that. If they try to put a modern spin on the uni’s, fonts, and logos, it will be downright corny.

An article on ESPN today says that Jordan is open to rebranding the Bobcats to the Hornets if the name is available. Who will jump ship to the newly branded Bobnets if this goes down? What will happen to Hornets247?

Pelicans!?!? That’s terrible! It’s crazy to change the team name now after they moved already! If the Bobcats (another crappy name) get the Hornets name who’s history will they have?!? Very confusing! I agree Hornets is a classic brand I remember 15 years ago people in Connecticut(where I live) use to wear Hornets gear all over just like Knicks, Lakers and Bulls.

There are severalpoints of view for this, and as an Argentinian fan since 1992, to have the Hornets brand disappear would be a very sad day. I will always support this team, but it wont be the same. The Hornets made me travel to Charlotte just to see a game, and had plans to travel to New Orleans to see another one there. For those supporting the “more local brand”, that is just nonsense, not every team has a name that reflects the local culture. Teams are about history and this team history has Hornets next to it. Dont tell me you didnt feel sad for the Supersonics brand disappearing… I was sad, even though i was not a Seattle citizen, or anything, it was a part of my NBA history disappearing. I know Seattle is a different story as the city hold the rights to the name, not the franchise, but anyway, i would just prefer the team leaving the HORNETS on it.

On a side note, anyone who read what i usually post can see that i reallylike the team and city, but the lack of support is concerning me more and more lately.I know NFL season is still on and that attendance usually goes up past january, but im feeling kind of ashamed of seeing my team play and watching so many empty seats. I saw the NY game with a NY fan and he was just laughing of it. Jason, i have seen some replies you post saying why should we care about attendance now with the owner in place, but wouldnt you, as a player, be more happy playing with an arena full of people cheering, or this half full ( trying to see the glass half full, not half empty) arena? That is one of the things that worries me most about the great future awaiting this team. What will our great rooks think at the moment when their contracts are done… Im not talking playing for a big market city, but at least playing in an arena where you could get 90% of it capacity going wild every night watching you play.

If the rookies don’t sign (and we don’t resign them as RFA’s) or sign QO’s to get out after 5 years, it won’t be because people aren’t attending now. It’ll be because the team is in shambles and we are losing tons, which will also be marked by bad attendance then.

Ice sales incraese as shark attacks increase. Why? Because both increase as temperature increases (near the beach). Correlation is not causation.

I remember that post about the football season now that youreminded it to me, but maybe i was not clear enough explaining my point. Wouldnt you prefer playing for a team that has a full arena regardless of the W/L column than one that just have fair weather type of fans? I just paid leaguepass to be able to watch games later as i knew that taking care of my new baby would take LOTS of time from me, and i can say i may have misssed no more than 20 games in the last 3 seasons. I think that a loyal fanbase is one of the intangibles a team must have to play to their maximum capacity. I always give my best inside a court (super amateur here, nothing more than friends games each weekend) but whenever a friend or my gf stop by to see me, i give a little extra. Maybe Pros dont need that kind of extra motivation, but i always think that a full arena atmosphere raises the game of every home team. This is not that im saying that NOLA fans are bandwagoners or anything like that, but i get shock each time i see so many empty seats. I think not even 75% of season tickets holders are attending games right now, and it gets me sad… i would be so happy to live there and attend every game…even a Vs Washington a wednesday nigth…

Jason Calmes

December 2, 2012 at 12:13 am

The fact of the matter is that most NBA teams deal with this, and it’s all about wins, regardless of who is a diehard.

Do we need a mascot? Can the team just be NOLA? They can create some mascot Pelican or what-not for the kids and to man the t-shirt cannon. But let it just be NOLA. Simple. Not corny. I think all mascots are pretty corny anyway Pelican, Hornets or Thunder – whatever.
Besides few things are more intimidating or hip than a Knickerbocker.

Looking at the issue of intimidating mascots in the NBA, there are maybe 4 -5 team names that could conceivably be “intimidating”:
the Bulls (running with the bulls does look dangerous)
Timberwolves (didn’t you see the Grey?)
Grizzlies (who isn’t afraid to camp at Yellowstone?)
Raptors (vicious dinosaurs after all)
AND perhaps the Warriors, (though their logo is now a bridge again, so theres that – if your afraid of heights).
Not sure who is being “intimidated” by a team’s name or their mascot.
There are reasons to not want the team to be Pelicans, but their not be intimidating probably doesn’t make a lot of sense. Now Pelicans are not inherently very cool. But what team mascot is inherently cool
they are all pretty absurd.

Teams become cool because of the players they have and because they win big.
How lame is the Spurs name be in a vacuum? Most of the NBA team names are pretty lame, but history and wins give the team name a different connotation than it would have on it own. And if it is too weird or uncool it gets shortened to something else: Cavs, Mavs or, Knicks.

It is hard to imagine the Wizards ever being cool, but it is also hard to imagine them ever winning a championship.

Unreal how much hate this name is getting. Personally, I like it. Has roots here in the city and the new colors also reflect the city in multiple ways (flag and colors of the old New Orleans Bucaneers). I agree with another post saying if the uniforms have a real traditional, classic look to it this could be a big hit.

Also, when was the last time someone liked a new franchise name? I don’t recall people falling hard for thunder when first introduced and definitely not bobcats. I bet if the Lakers, Bucks, Kincks, Celtics, Hawks, Heat, or countless other teams were receiving those names in the present,, those names would be hated on.

That is awful. Just keep hornets, turn the blue to green, get rid of those gawd awful pinstripes, etc. I was all about a re-brand, but if the finalists are Krewe, Brass, and Pelicans – then hell with it. Keep it. I’d rather a cheesy WNBA name like Krewe or Brass than the Pelicans. Ugh

Very true Thunder doesn’t seem very weird anymore. I’m not for the Pelican name but I’m sure if it is the name it would grow on everyone. We’d hear lines like Lil Wayne’s “higher than a mother f*****n pelican”!

Well, this has certainly picked up some steam. I read the report by Marc Spears, but didn’t find one new piece of information. Essentially it was this article, but with “numerous sources” attached to it.

If it does turn out to be Pelicans, nice work by Hornets247. Either way, really. You guys were in front of the story on the local team, easy to talk about yet hard to do.

You can’t compare it the Bullets switching their name to Wizards. This is difficult for the Hornet fans that don’t live in New Orleans or Charlotte. We fell in love with the Charlotte Hornets and bad ownership is what got us in this situation. We went from Charlotte to New Orleans to OKC back to New Orleans but we always kept the Hornets. What are we supposed to do if/when Charlotte takes back the Hornet nickname? Root for them now because that is our roots? Is there really a possibility that I will get pissed that the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans actually got the first pick over the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets because I will eventually be rooting for them? I’m not trying to start any fires here because trust me I love this team and anyone can tell you there is nothing that could prevent me from loving them. I just dont know what I’m supposed to do if the bobcats turn back into the hornets. Who is my team? What did I do to deserve this?

There is that tribal aspect to following a team. It’s not a easy problem. How will it feel for Hornets fans who love the team and have for a long time, but move to the Pelicans, to say, “I hope we beat the Hornets?”

Do what I’m going to do, pick a completely new team or don’t pick any team and just support the sport… I would be open to going back to a Charlotte fan if they become the Hornets again, however I am not a Michael Jordan fan (and have never been) so personally I can’t support a team that he owns.

As a bit of a background, I was born and raised about an hr from N.O. and rooted for PHX until the team came to town. But honestly wasn’t a serious fan until I came back from a tour in Japan. Been a diehard ever since. My personal opinion about the rebrand is that I’m proud of the fact we have a Basketball team in LA period regardless of the name. Hornets, Pels, NOLA, Krewe of N.O., dont matter. I will still hold my team down and defend my team with pride, even in South Dakota and its 11 people per square mile (Thanks Jason for that little titbit lol). BTW the fan count here is now 2. Well be viral soon!

USA Today running an article today about the name change with hornets spokesman saying name change and color scheme is out of their hands with the NBA having control of that and that nothing has been done to move in that direction with the league.

There had to have been at least one discussion if the NBA guided them from black as a color to navy blue. Right?

Ray

December 5, 2012 at 3:16 pm

With this team who knows Jason….until it actually happens you can’t believe anything around here.Quite frankly I don’t understand their PR department and the way they get out information on the team.They are very frustrating to say the least.I’m just passing on info that I found on a national news outlet contradicting the earlier stories about the Pelicans being a done deal..take it for what it’s worth..personally I’m hoping that David Stern comes to our rescue once again and nixes all this talk of re branding..but I ain’t holding my breath…

Jason Calmes

December 5, 2012 at 6:19 pm

Agreed. I’m just pointing out the contradictions in the data. Steve Kyler is reporting that ownership wants Pelicans and is give generic reasons as to why it may not happen. It’s thin, nonspecific.

That’s ridiculous! LA is Lakers. And where are the great lakes of Los Angeles??? Chicago is Bulls. Have you ever seen a bull grazing in the streets of Chicago??? Utah is Jazz. How many famous jazz musicians exist in Salt Lake City?? Toronto is Raptors. And you know why? In honor of the Jurassic Park movie, and it’s nothing to do with the culture of Toronto. So the murder of Hornets and name change to Pelicans is something that can only come from the head of an old hillbilly, senile and squalid as this sr. Tom Benson. That “beautiful” dual owners the Hornets had in its history … George Shinn and Tom Benson … OMG!!! I want cry!

Lucas strikes again. It is my intention to tell you to get out. Go. Go watch 90’s charlotte basketball. Support the TEAM or don’t. Supporting colors and a mascot you cherish are pointless. The bobcats will change their name soon. I’m sure they’d love a 15th fan.

I’m not being a bully. I’m just saying what everyone else is afraid to say. Take the davis shirt off. You obviously could care less about the players or the team or their future. Throw away your jerseys. Buy everything with just a logo on it. What is the point of rooting for a mascot. I guess you can take a year off from basketball then you can watch the charlotte hornets win a nice 20 games

What do you guys think about all the cred Marc Spears is getting for “scooping” this story? I read his article, and (withholding judgment) it is the same as your report, just with unnamed sources attached.

WOW!!!! The pelicans how lame I’m a loyal new Orleans fan but if this goes through I wont be I wont be cought dead rocking pelican gear sorry lol they’ll be the laughing stock of sports tom Benson really you need to reconsider another name like brass or krewe perfect for new Orleans but pelicans why I ask you why that’s just plain awful!!!!!:(

i´m a proud hornet fan…..i have been a fan for 16 years…..i will alway´s fallow the team….no matter where charlotte or new orleans…..no matter hornets or pelicans…..but i will not say with my head high that i´m a proud pelican fan…..i´m a proud Hornets fan.. Benson could name the hornets the new orleans goofy´s! it would be just as bad!!

Then you aren’t a real fan. I will. Because I’m a real fan. I’m not gonna tell you to get out, because it isn’t at all my right or my intention. But real fans show their support with the utmost pride. And I will lift my head high with my #23 pelicans jersey on waiting for the day the pelicans bring the Larry brown trophy back to NOLA.